Month: July 2022

Female Disruptors: Marilyn Pinto of KFI Global On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your…

Female Disruptors: Marilyn Pinto of KFI Global On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

I was sufficiently affected by imposter syndrome to ensure that I relentlessly questioned my thinking and my ideas. I read and studied incessantly because I was insecure about my competence and profoundly curious about what I didn’t know. I wanted to ensure that I was thoroughly prepared and better informed than anyone who could question my credentials. As Adam Grant says in his latest book, Think Again, ‘Humility is a crucial ingredient of the mind, and I made sure I was dosing up regularly.’

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Marilyn Pinto.

Marilyn L. Pinto is the Founder of KFI Global, an education company that specialises in teaching teenagers how to make smarter money decisions. KFI was recently awarded the Best Financial Literacy Project for schools by the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIA) 2022. Marilyn is on a mission to bring this life-changing education to more youngsters across the world because it will empower them to step up, stand out and live life on their own terms. Her promise is a SMARTER, RICHER, BRAVER generation.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I didn’t start this company because I noticed a gap in the market, I started it because I noticed a gap (more like a deep gaping hole) in my then eight- and ten- year-old daughters’ understanding of money. While they were both academically smart, they were clueless about money, and this problem wasn’t specific to them. Everybody else’s kids seemed to have the same issue.

I didn’t intend to start a company, I just wanted to enrol my kids in a programme that taught them about money in a thoughtful, holistic and intelligent way. There wasn’t one. I knew what I wanted, and every programme I looked into came up way short. That’s how and why I started KFI. It’s a labour of love, created not just for my kids but for any kid who’d like to be financially empowered.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

That we are teaching kids, teens and young adults a critical life skill that is missing as part of their regular education.

That we do it in a way that they not only benefit immensely from the program but that they thoroughly enjoy the learning process.

That our program doesn’t just focus on building awareness but more crucially on mindset and attitude, which are arguably as important, if not more, on impacting behaviour change.

That our programs include aspects of psychology & neuroscience, which teenagers find intriguing.

That we are using a model that involves multi-stakeholder partnerships, that involve the whole ecosystem– schools, parents, students and financial institutions. This then becomes a shared vision — not just a vision that belongs to one person or company.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I thought that once I was trained, I could easily teach this to my kids. That was funny. Kids don’t listen to their parents. And there is a term for that, it’s called ‘proximity bias’. We are too close to them for them to see the value we can offer.

When I saw how widespread this issue was, I stopped taking it personally and learned to leverage this so that we could effectively teach kids/ teens in a way that was most beneficial to them, and their parents.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

I had so much help — mainly from the authors I love and follow. Adam Grant, Dan Ariely, Morgan Housel, Tony Robbins, Jason Zweig, Daniel Priestly, Adam Alter, John Holt, Dan Heath and so many others. (I did say I had a lot of help! ☺)

I am a voracious reader and reading all these different ideas and viewpoints helped me curate a vision that was unique yet resonant with my target audience.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

I am not an academic. I do not hail from the hallowed halls of academia. For the longest time I demurred to them, thinking that they knew what was best for everyone, until I realised they don’t — not for everyone, not in all circumstances and certainly not on all issues. While they may have the best intentions, this does not always translate into doing what’s best for the student. While I initially felt like an imposter/ when starting KFI GLOBAL I had looked long and hard into what was being taught around money, how it was being taught, and more importantly what was not being taught, and it didn’t smell right.

I knew there had to be a better way. This was too critical an issue to leave to chance or experience, especially when I needed my own kids to acquire this skill soon. I couldn’t risk sitting and waiting silently on the sidelines, and academia is famous for its glacial pace of change. I was intrigued by what the entrepreneur Naveen Jain said in his article for Inc., ‘Why you should always bet on dreamers, not experts’: ‘Your ignorance is what makes you the best person to disrupt the industry.’

This is true because being ignorant allows you to ask the questions the experts can’t; you can think in ways the experts can’t, because they are boxed in by their assumptions; you can break rules the experts won’t ever dare to. People from within the industry tend to tweak incrementally. I knew that incremental change wasn’t going to cut it. A radical makeover was in order. I was also enough of an outsider to have no stake in the way things had always been done. I could tell the emperor that he wasn’t wearing any clothes.

I was sufficiently affected by imposter syndrome to ensure that I relentlessly questioned my thinking and my ideas. I read and studied incessantly because I was insecure about my competence and profoundly curious about what I didn’t know. I wanted to ensure that I was thoroughly prepared and better informed than anyone who could question my credentials. As Adam Grant says in his latest book, Think Again, ‘Humility is a crucial ingredient of the mind, and I made sure I was dosing up regularly.’

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

1. An old African proverb: “To go fast go alone, to go far, go together”.

It formed the basis of my vision for KFI GLOBAL. To use multi-stakeholder partnerships, that involve the whole ecosystem — schools, parents, students, financial institutions and the press. So that it isn’t just one person’s vision, but a vision that belongs to everyone.

I now work really hard to build these multi-stakeholder partnerships and it’s amazing to see the difference working together can make to the bigger vision.

2. Daniel Priestly says: “Don’t be in the spotlight, become the spotlight.”

This helped change the way I thought about publicity. Being inherently shy and an introvert — public speaking and interviews were things I avoided like the plague. Until this piece of advice changed the way I think. I don’t need to be in the spotlight, this wasn’t about me. I need to shine the spotlight on the issue of financial literacy for the younger generation. It helped me get over my neuroses of attention.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

I’d like to continue to partner with financial institutions and bring this education to schools for free. It would be a win-win for all involved — the students get world class training for free, the school scores brownie points with the parents and the financial institutions get to deliver on their CSR/ Sustainability vision.

Keep in mind that we do not product push to any of our students in any of our classes, no matter who the sponsor is.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

I think our biggest challenge is ourselves, we doubt our abilities more than anyone does. We constantly second guess ourselves, when we should be acting with boldness. We are victims of self-imposed perfection, when we should realise that prolific is better than perfect. We also take failure too personally.

Men don’t seem to have these problems; they act with a lot more confidence and assertiveness. They don’t wait till things are perfect, they make it up as they go along. And they bounce back from failure much faster too.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

As I said before I read a lot and I’ve been very influenced by so many great authors. Cal Newport is one of my all-time favourites though. His book ‘So Good They Can’t Ignore you’ really opened my mind to the concept of mastery and I love his idea of “Passion is dangerous”. I agree, for me, financially educating youngsters isn’t a passion, it’s an obsession.

I often get told that I’m passionate about what I do, but I disagree. Passion is too mild a term for the way I feel about the work I do. I’m obsessive. That’s what enabled me to curate a programme and a methodology that has revolutionised the way financial education is taught to teenagers.

Being obsessive means I always want to do the right thing for the teens in my care. This has earned me the trust and gratitude of parents.

I obsess daily about how to reach more teens so they can leverage this knowledge for a brighter future and whether I am doing enough to further this cause. This is why I keep pushing every day, even when the obstacles seem insurmountable, and this is why I enjoy the journey.

This obsession is why I smile through it all.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

Well, since I’m obsessed with the idea of financial education for youngsters, I’d like to inspire a movement to make this education available to all teens. And delivered in a way that we know is effective and enjoyable, while not pushing any products during the program delivery.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

I love the saying by Bozoma St John “We spend too much time complaining about the way things are, we forget that we have the power to change anything and everything”

I was done complaining and I’d had enough of admiring the problem. I decided I was going to change the face of financial education for the younger generation.

How can our readers follow you online?

Social media handle: @kfiglobaltribe

I’m most active on Linkedin though.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Female Disruptors: Marilyn Pinto of KFI Global On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Dr Bradley Nelson of Discover Healing On How To Develop Mindfulness During Stressful Or Uncertain…

Dr Bradley Nelson of Discover Healing On How To Develop Mindfulness During Stressful Or Uncertain Times

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Get rid of your “emotional baggage.” The energy of the difficult emotions that you have experienced during the low spots of your life may still be with you. Those emotional energies or “Trapped Emotions” can make it very difficult for you to truly relax and feel joy. The Emotion Code is a simple method that you can learn to do yourself, for yourself as well as for your loved ones. People all over the world have found that this powerful method is easy to learn, yet often is life-changing.

As a part of my series about “How To Develop Mindfulness And Serenity During Stressful Or Uncertain Times”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Bradley Nelson.

Veteran holistic physician Dr. Bradley Nelson (D.C., ret.) is one of the world’s foremost experts on natural methods of achieving wellness. He is the creator of The Emotion Code and The Body Code system, and is the CEO of Discover Healing, a holistic education platform that provides training and certifies practitioners worldwide. His best-selling book “The Emotion Code” provides step-by-step instructions for working with the body’s energy healing power. A newly revised and expanded edition of “The Emotion Code” is now available (May 2019, St. Martin’s Press). For more information and a free Emotion Code Starter Kit, visit EmotionCodeGift.com.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?

When I was 13 years old, I began to suffer from severe pain in my back that would come and go, striking me unexpectedly and taking my breath away. My anxious parents took me to the hospital, where diagnostic tests showed that I was suffering from a form of kidney disease. Many years later, my mother told me that the doctors privately told her and my father that I had a fifty-fifty chance of survival, but that there was no medical treatment available for my condition. Since there was nothing Western medicine had to offer, they were on their own to help me. The doctors had no advice, except to say that I shouldn’t run or play, to avoid jostling my kidneys. I didn’t need to hear this, as it had become more than self-evident. Sometimes the slightest movements would result in excruciating pain.

Our lives were turned upside down. Suddenly my life was in jeopardy. My parents were deeply concerned, and I was walking on eggshells to avoid the sudden, stabbing pains that would shoot through my body.

When I was a young boy, I can recall making many trips to the health-food store with my mother. She was considered by many to be a “health nut.” This was long before it became popular or trendy. Back then, the medical profession seemed to think that anyone who took vitamins was actually a bit crazy and that people who rejected drugs and surgery as their main methods of health care were truly “nuts.”

Our shelves at home were stocked with all kinds of vitamin supplements, which my mother doled out to us regularly. She was very interested in health and was constantly studying natural treatments and remedies. She seemed to know just about everything that was related to health. People would often call her and ask her advice on various health topics, and she was never without an answer or a suggestion.

So when my parents were told that Western medicine had nothing to offer their sick son, my mother was undaunted. She and my father took me to see some alternative doctors. In fact, these doctors seemed to me to be an entirely different breed of doctor than those in the hospital who had not given my parents much hope. They didn’t practice in a hospital. Instead, they practiced out on the edge of town in a trailer house, situated in the middle of a wheat field. I can remember sometimes having to scrape the mud off my shoes when we would go to see them. I can also remember seeing busloads of people who had come from other states to see these alternative doctors, traveling hundreds of miles to get the help that they could not get anywhere else.

These two doctors did not practice Western medicine at all. Instead, they looked at the body as a whole. They began treating me as a whole person, giving me herbal drinks that were bitter tasting, and realigning the bones of my spine.

The result? Immediately, the pain began to be both less frequent and less severe. Within a few weeks I was feeling dramatically better. Before long, I was back to my normal life and had nearly forgotten that I had ever been sick.

Just to be on the safe side, my parents took me back to the clinic to have the same medical doctors run their tests again. As I recall, the tests were run not once more, but twice. They were negative. I was cured, but not by the medical doctors in that big, expensive clinic. I knew that they hadn’t actually done anything to help me.

Instead, those holistic doctors practicing out on the edge of town in an old trailer house in a muddy field had saved my life. I knew in my heart, at the core of my being, that what these people had done was exactly what my body needed. It seemed odd to me that the medical profession did not understand what to do for me. In fact, they had offered me nothing whatsoever. It was at that point in my life that I decided I wanted to grow up to be a doctor that knew how to help people get well.

If I needed to practice out on the edge of town in a trailer house in a muddy field, that was okay with me. As far as I could tell, that seemed to be the natural habitat of doctors who got results.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

Morning sickness affects millions of women worldwide, and there is no effective treatment for it. There are medications that a pregnant woman can take but those are potentially harmful to both the fetus and the mother. When my wife Jean was pregnant with our youngest daughter Elisabeth, she was suffering with morning sickness. We had a family reunion to attend and Jean didn’t know how she could travel being so sick. She asked me to help her. I started thinking of all the things that I knew that were supposed remedies. There’s a long list of things that you can try and some of those things help a little, but none of them really fix the problem. Without any real viable options that I knew of, I decided to turn to the higher power and ask for some help. The answer that came to me was that morning sickness is caused by a disconnection between the mother and the growing fetus. What I found was the brain is sometimes not initially connected with this new life that is growing within. Essentially, the mother has to be connected both energetically and physically with all parts of the fetus.

I’ve seen a good number of morning-sick women over the years since I was led to this knowledge. I haven’t had anyone yet that this has not helped. Often the effect is immediate and quite dramatic. As soon as you create the energetic connections, the morning sickness is usually gone. Typically what women say is, “I feel better; I’m going to go eat something!” They’re hungry because they haven’t been able to eat due to the morning sickness. This is something that you won’t find anywhere else but in The Body Code.

What advice would you give to other leaders about how to create a fantastic work culture?

People want to feel that their work is making a difference, that they have a level of significance in an organization. In our company, Discover Healing, Inc., we have a weekly huddle meeting where anyone can share what has been going on in their life, and where we read some of the latest testimonials that have been received, where people’s lives have been changed. We also have an annual company party, which has become like a family reunion, where our employees bring their children and we all have a great time together.

Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?

I’m often asked this question, and my short list of the top five books that have had a big impact on my life is somewhat variable, except for the book at the very top of that list. The book that has had by far the biggest impact on my life is called the Book of Mormon. The spiritual lessons, the stories and ideas in that book have brought me closer to The Higher Power than any other book I have ever read, bar none. One of my favorite stories from the book tells of the visit of Jesus Christ to the ancient inhabitants of America, shortly after he rose from the dead in Jerusalem. Wild stuff. But then, truth is often stranger than fiction!

Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. From your experience or research, how would you define and describe the state of being mindful?

Mindfulness means you’re fully present and conscious of the moment you’re in. Research has found that people who practice mindfulness can have deeper relationships and enjoy life more! To boost your emotional health you might begin a meditation practice, spend more time in nature, or simply put your phone down while interacting with family or friends. Focus on being truly present and involved in whatever is in front of you right now — and notice how much richer your experience of that situation becomes!

This might be intuitive to you, but it will be instructive to spell this out. Can you share with our readers a few of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of becoming mindful?

Amid fear and worry over the pandemic, research shows that practicing mindfulness may alleviate symptoms of anxiety and can guard the immune system from becoming compromised by stress.

Ok. Here is the main question of our discussion. The past 5 years have been filled with upheaval and political uncertainty. Many people have become anxious from the dramatic jolts of the news cycle. From your experience or research, what are five steps that each of us can take to develop mindfulness during such uncertain times?

Try going on a media diet. Remember the news media lives by the axiom, “if it bleeds, it leads.” There is a tremendously powerful, built-in media bias to share bad news. And the worse the news, the more the ratings go up. I know people who during the pandemic were listening to news during all their waking hours. They found it very difficult to deal with all this stress. On the other hand, I know people who live without television, who would scarcely have known there was a pandemic going on except for their friends telling them about it. Going on a media diet for a while will help you to realize that the world is still turning, and there are lots of good things happening, in spite of the bad things that are going on in the world. Putting effort into resisting things that are going on around the world that you have absolutely no control over is not only pointless, but very hard on your own energy state.
Focus on love. At the beginning of the pandemic I found myself grocery shopping with my wife one day. It was the time of the toilet paper shortage that you may recall. The place was crowded. The sense of panic and anxiety was palpable. As I began to resonate with these feelings that were filling the store, I thought to myself, “I don’t want to feel this. I’m going to try something else,” and silently, in my own mind I began telling strangers, “I love you.” I tried to really feel that love in my heart for these people that I didn’t know at all. I believe that when you tell someone that you love them, even if it’s only in your own mind, if it’s coming from your heart they will feel it, it will register in their subconscious mind. In any case, the effect it had on me was magical. Within 60 seconds the anxiety was forgotten, my vibrational state was very high, and I had a smile on my face for the rest of that day. Try it!
Take a walk. If you’re feeling upset and you’re having a hard time being centered and being in the present moment, simply taking a walk for five or 10 minutes can completely change your state. It’s worked for me many times, and I highly recommend it.
Connect with someone. What meaning does your life really have without those people in your life that you care about? Is there someone in your life that you’ve lost contact with? Is there someone that you can reach out to and reconnect with? A simple note to let someone know that you still care about them, that you are thinking of them, may not only make their day, but may make yours as well.
Get rid of your “emotional baggage.” The energy of the difficult emotions that you have experienced during the low spots of your life may still be with you. Those emotional energies or “Trapped Emotions” can make it very difficult for you to truly relax and feel joy. The Emotion Code is a simple method that you can learn to do yourself, for yourself as well as for your loved ones. People all over the world have found that this powerful method is easy to learn, yet often is life-changing.

From your experience or research, what are some steps that each of us can take to effectively offer support to those around us who are feeling anxious? Can you explain?

Encourage them to express their feelings. Talking about how you feel can help you process your emotions, and help you cope when you feel upset. Being honest, open, and vulnerable can help you move through any negative emotions, and allows you to connect more deeply with others.
Help them Improve their physical health. A healthy body helps support a healthy mind! When you get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and move your body you are also taking care of your mental and emotional health.
Deepen your relationship with them. Having people to count on is helpful for emotional health! While being content alone is important too, knowing you can call someone up when you’re having a bad day, or share your successes with someone else, can be beneficial for your mental health.
Learn the Emotion Code. Releasing “emotional baggage” is so easy, fast, and simple that anyone can do it. Get a copy of the book, read it, and offer to help!
Recommend they Work with a Therapist. If you need help understanding your emotions, a therapist or counselor can also help. Therapists can also teach communication skills to convey those emotions.

What are the best resources you would suggest for someone to learn how to be more mindful and serene in their everyday life?

I think that all of things we have talked about in this article are helpful, and I would add yoga and meditation to the list, as well as prayer and getting out in nature. There are many great books on mindfulness and beginning meditation practice out there, too. Enjoy!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?

One of my favorite cartoons has a guru on a mountaintop responding to a truth seeker by saying, “You’d better have a seat — people tend to fall down the mountain when I tell them the meaning of life!”

For some reason, I have been blessed with some profound spiritual experiences. I’ve learned for myself that we truly are all brothers and sisters in a most real sense, because I’ve learned for myself and know that we have a Father in Heaven, the Father of us all. Whether you refer to Him as “the Divine” or “Source Energy” or “Higher Power” or any other name, I think it’s all the same. To call Him Father is more accurate in my view, and feels more personal and familial to me.

I’ve also learned for myself that we are strangers here in this world. In the words of William Wordsworth:

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:

The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,

Hath had elsewhere its setting,

And cometh from afar:

Not in entire forgetfulness,

And not in utter nakedness,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come

From God, who is our home.

The best gift you could possibly give to yourself and to God is to consistently choose love, truth, forgiveness, and joy, to live a life filled with service, gratitude, and the highest good you can find, so that when you leave this life you will be comfortable returning home again, back to His presence, to your Father. Life is all about who we are becoming, ultimately. I think if we truly understood how important this is, we would probably “fall down the mountain” ourselves.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I love to inspire people to learn more about how energy healing can potentially remove emotional baggage, which may help reverse all kinds of discomfort — emotional and physical. The Emotion Code doesn’t require expensive therapy or the reexperiencing of trauma. It literally removes the energy of sadness, anxiousness, anger, loneliness, and other negative emotions in just a few minutes. This is something that has been life changing for many.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

DiscoverHealing.com

DrBradleyNelson.com
facebook.com/DrBradleyNelson/

twitter.com/drbradleynelson

linkedin.com/in/dr-bradley-nelson-1392022/

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

Dr Bradley Nelson of Discover Healing On How To Develop Mindfulness During Stressful Or Uncertain… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Modern Fashion: Lindsey Carter of SET Active On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion…

**Modern Fashion: Lindsey Carter of SET Active On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today**

An Interview With Candice Georgiadice

Vulnerability. It’s so scary to take risks, try new things, or do something that no one else is doing. But in business we need to do all of these things, pretty much daily, in order to reach our highest potential.

Many in the fashion industry have been making huge pivots in their business models. Many have turned away from the fast fashion trend. Many have been focusing on fashion that also makes a social impact. Many have turned to sustainable and ethical sourcing. Many have turned to hi tech manufacturing. Many have turned to subscription models. What are the other trends that we will see in the fashion industry? What does it take to lead a successful fashion brand today?

In our series called, “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today” we are talking to successful leaders of fashion brands who can talk about the Future of Fashion and the 5 things it takes to lead a successful fashion brand in our “new normal.”

As a part of this series I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Lindsey Carter, the Founder/CEO of SET Active.

Lindsey Carter is the Founder and CEO of SET Active, a new mother, and the host of podcast “Ready, SET, Spill”. Frustrated by a lack of comfortable, quality clothes that could support her on-the-go lifestyle, Lindsey had a vision for elevated activewear that could take anyone from the office to a meeting to a workout — with confidence and in style. With a strong background in social media marketing, Lindsey’s passion for fostering community and sparking conversation through digital connection, combined with the strategic decision to release apparel in limited edition colorways, propelled SET into its cult-like status instantaneously.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”?

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, the third of four kids in my family. My mom passed away when I was still in elementary school, so all four of us being raised by my dad could get a little crazy at times. I struggled to find my place in school and dealt with a lot of bullying — something I would never wish upon any kid. While I would still say I had a fortunate upbringing, it was always made clear to me that I wasn’t going to be handed anything in life, which ignited the entrepreneurial spirit that was already in me. Eventually, the combination of craving the feeling of a close knit family and seeking to build something of my own would lead me down the path of where I am today: running a successful athleisure company that prides itself in being a community first, and a brand second.

Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?

I always get a look of surprise when I tell people that I went to college to become a teacher. I love kids so that just seemed like the obvious career choice, but I quickly discovered that it wasn’t for me. I worked briefly in entertainment and then in trend forecasting. I’ll be totally honest — I’m not great at working for someone else, so I decided to quit my job and launch my own company. The first business I started was a social media management company. We were hugely successful at helping some of the biggest early influencers grow and manage their brands. I found myself bouncing from meetings to lunches to workouts to dinners, and as someone without a “typical” thin body type, I really struggled to find something to wear that was both practical and looked put-together. That — and the desire to start building my own brand instead of helping to build someone else’s — was how the idea for SET was born.

Can you share a story about the most interesting thing that happened to you since you began your career?

It’s hard to pinpoint the most interesting thing, but in the past year or so we have been able to do a couple really cool collaborations. We created an exclusive collection with Revolve, a brand that has always been on my vision board, and even hosted an activation at their NYFW space. We also collaborated with Madelyn Cline from Netflix’s Outer Banks. She exceeded all of our expectations in so many ways and we loved seeing our community’s reaction to her limited edition drop. If you know SET, you know we love to wow, so expect more amazing collabs coming soon.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Perseverance: I was told “no” a lot in the beginning. People actually laughed in my face when I told them what my goals were. Like, literal laughter. I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t affect me — but I try to at least use that feeling to fuel me instead of bring me down.

Critical thinking: Everyone on the SET team knows how much I love solutions and pivots. We deal constantly with various obstacles — everything from creative (i.e. a campaign shoot flopped) to production (hello supply chain issues) — so I am always problem-solving and pivoting to keep things moving forward.

Empathy: In addition to actively asking our community for feedback, I constantly imagine myself in the shoes of SET’s customers and I always encourage our employees to do the same. Is this what they’d want to wear? Is this how they’d want to be spoken to? Is this an experience that would wow them? Our customers mean everything to me, so it’s important to strive to go above and beyond for them.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

We’re really grateful that SET has been able to succeed in the same space as some athleisure giants with infinitely more resources than we have. Product-wise, we were one of the first people to release matching athleisure sets in unique, limited edition colors, which definitely gave us an edge. It didn’t take everyone else long to catch on, so we’ve managed to differentiate ourselves from the competition by constantly innovating our offerings, keeping our content fresh and ever-evolving, and focusing on building a really strong, positive online community. Our connection to our SET community is undoubtedly one of the things that separates us the most — we love to include them in our decisions when we can, we keep a really close pulse on how they’re feeling, and we always aim to exceed their expectations. In 2023 we hope to be able to strengthen the SET community even more with some in-person activations too — stay tuned.

Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?

I believe in that cliche quote that if you aren’t failing, you aren’t trying hard enough. Failure is absolutely the most valuable learning opportunity, and it takes vulnerability to allow yourself to take the risks that might lead you to fail.

Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Do you see any fascinating developments emerging over the next few years in the fashion industry that you are excited about? Can you tell us about that?

I like to do things differently than other people are doing, which means I don’t really follow fashion trends. We just mapped out 2023 and it’s going to be epic and even more unique than ever. I can’t tell you about where the mainstream fashion industry is headed but I can tell you what we’re really excited about at SET: expanding our product lineup and adding new categories, some incredibly cool collabs, and in-person pop-ups and activations.

Can you share how your brand is helping to bring goodness to the world?

SET is all about inspiring confidence and empowering our community to feel their best. We believe that when people feel comfortable, chic, and confident in what they’re wearing, it helps set the tone for everything else in their day. Another big thing I try to do as a founder is be open about my mental health struggles with anxiety and abandonment issues. I’m also as transparent as I possibly can be about my career journey because I love helping aspiring entrepreneurs. I host a podcast called “Ready, SET, Spill” where I interview other CEOs, creatives, and influencers where we spill a ton about the reality of our careers to show that success is possible for anybody.

Can you share with our readers about the ethical standards you use when you choose where to source materials?

Thank goodness for my production team because they’re the ones who know the ins and outs of our materials and how they’re sourced. From a high level perspective, it’s our goal to always use the highest quality materials we can while still maintaining an accessible price point. We do what we can to minimize waste — from releasing limited edition drops to using manufacturing techniques that have a smaller environmental impact. It’s also important to me that we only work with manufacturing facilities with high ethical standards. I learned early on that just because something is made in LA doesn’t mean it’s ethical and just because something is made overseas doesn’t mean it isn’t — so we aim to work with facilities that we can get to know and form long term relationships with.

Fast fashion has an advantage, that it is affordable for most people, but it also has the drawback that it does not last very long and is therefore not very sustainable. What are your thoughts about this? How does your company address this question?

Fast fashion refers to the clothing industry model of replicating high-fashion designs and mass-producing them to sell at retail for a low cost — and that really couldn’t be further from what we do at SET. We create lasting designs that we hope will be staples in your wardrobe for the long run. SET’s pieces are versatile, meant to stand on their own as a complete outfit, and are just as easy to mix in with an existing wardrobe. We try to balance quality and price point, using the best quality materials we can at a price that’s still accessible to our target demographic. Additionally, we release limited edition colorways in limited quantities, which means we sell out of items and avoid wasting product.

Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand”. Please share a story or example for each.

A unique product and brand positioning that helps set you apart from others in your space. For example, SET is athleisure for the girl-on-the-go who wants to feel confident and “set” for her entire day, ideated when activewear was solely being marketed for working out.
A cohesive and consistent brand image and voice. SET’s brand can be felt through every single touchpoint on the customer journey, enhancing the experience for our community and simultaneously solidifying brand recognition.
An authentic brand story and brand values. Understanding SET’s “why” and our brand values has helped guide us through decision making and problem solving so that even as we grow or face challenges, we always stay true to who we are and why we exist.
A team that helps balance you out as a leader. Initially I hired for all of my weaknesses, like the technical side of Shopify or logistics and operations. This ensured we had a really well-rounded team with skills that complemented one another and allowed each of our strengths to thrive.
Vulnerability. It’s so scary to take risks, try new things, or do something that no one else is doing. But in business we need to do all of these things, pretty much daily, in order to reach our highest potential.

Every industry constantly evolves and seeks improvement. How do you think the fashion industry can improve itself? Can you give an example?

Diversity and inclusivity are big ones that are always on our radar at SET. There’s also still a long way to go in the way companies talk to women. A lot of marketing language in fashion still essentially implies that clothing can help you “fix” something that is “wrong” with you. Something super important to me at SET is the way we talk about our clothing and to our customers. We want getting dressed to be fun and easy. We want our clothes to help you feel good about everything that’s already amazing about you. Clothes should be made to fit you and not the other way around.

Well if I could personally start a movement to protect people’s rights to abortions or enact gun safety laws especially so our kids could be safer at schools, I absolutely would. But on a more realistic note, I’d love to start a movement to encourage people to be nicer to one another online. No brand or person is going to be liked by everybody. That’s okay. You can always disengage with content or creators you don’t like. There’s a difference between constructive feedback for someone you genuinely want to see succeed, and just straight up criticism — but honestly either way, spending energy posting anonymous negative comments to a public forum seems like such a strange use of time. If there’s a problem, you can and should absolutely address it directly, but if you just have a not-so-nice opinion, you can totally just keep it to yourself and unfollow. We’re so lucky at SET to have the world’s best online community, but even we aren’t immune to some internet negativity. It’s one thing to feel how it affects me or my incredibly hardworking employees, but it’s way more upsetting when I think about how this type of behavior is going to affect younger generations.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

www.setactive.co or @setactive on IG and Tik Tok.

Thank you so much for these excellent stories and insights. We wish you continued success on your great work!

Modern Fashion: Lindsey Carter of SET Active On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Julie Melnick of SkySquad On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a…

Female Founders: Julie Melnick of SkySquad On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Make time to take care of yourself. This one I am still working on. There have been many days and weeks where I skipped exercise to work. On the days that I make time to work out — even if it is just a 20 minute bike ride or yoga class, my day is more productive and enjoyable. I need to remember this daily!

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Julie Melnick.

Julie Melnick is the CEO and founder of SkySquad, a technology-enabled platform that matches travelers with experienced airport assistants to provide support from car door to plane door and vice versa. She also served as a partner at Stand Out Public Relations, president and founder of Nanny in the Clouds, and a sales executive and marketing director for Coldwell Banker. Julie holds a Masters of Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Rutgers University.

What led me to SkySquad? I would say that my life led me to SkySquad. After working in TV, marketing, and PR, I was living in California with my husband and my two and a half year old son. I traveled to the East Coast often to see my family, and I had one flight where I literally could not carry my car seat, diaper bag, suitcase, stroller, and toddler to walk on to the plane. I asked the gate agent for help, and he said, “Sorry ma’am, those are your own belongings. You are on your own.” I could not believe it! I looked around the airport and thought, there have to be more people like me who could use an extra hand. That is when I started my first startup, Nanny in the Clouds … which eventually morphed into SkySquad.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

I think the thing that surprised me the most is the value of saving time for our customers is huge. In Ft. Lauderdale, where we are able to expedite customers through both check in and security, we are extremely busy. Some days, we are helping 90 to 100 groups. Even though I started this business to help moms and dads at the airport, it has grown into a company that is saving time and stress for seniors and, most surprisingly, solo travelers who just want to have a better airport experience.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Funniest mistake!? Yes! Well, I am LOL as I write this. When we got the opportunity to open in Ft. Lauderdale, the airport gave us permit paperwork along with the information about getting an airline sponsor. We had opened in several other airports before but getting an airline sponsor was new for us. After working on that for several months, we finally had a sponsor. This was very exciting for us, and we were so excited to launch! We bought airline tickets, the team flew down to FLL, we started hiring, and got to the airport for launch day with SkySquad signs and our team. But, one small thing that we forgot to do was to complete the permit paperwork. We inadvertently thought that by obtaining an airline sponsor that we were good to go! However, that permit paperwork was a vital piece of the puzzle. We had to pack it up on day one, go home, and press pause for a few weeks while we got our permit paperwork approved. That was a lesson I will never forget. We learned that one the hard way.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My family has helped me get here! There’s no way I could have started SkySquad without the support of my husband, my kids, my mom, and my sister. They have all played a very special part in my ability to bring SkySquad to life. On February 12, 2019, I went to ‘The Future of Travel” conference with my mom in Miami because I was seriously considering leaving my PR company to start a company to help families travel better. I knew that I wanted to bring SkySquad to life but I knew it would be a major life change. That day, we saw many startups present. And, all I could think of was, “Wow, this is going to be a LOT of work and wow, I really want to do this.” Having started Nanny in the Clouds a few years earlier, I had an idea of what I was getting myself into. Once I made the decision to pursue SkySquad, I was I in 110%. I have not looked back since. My mom has been there cheering me on that day and every single day since. She told me that day back in Miami, “Julie, you have a great idea, now you just need to surround yourself with smart people who can help make it happen!” She was right!

My husband Matt was a bit skeptical, because he is a realist and knew that startups have a high failure rate. But, he has supported me in every way possible, helping with balancing our busy schedules, being there to listen, and to remind me that I can do this. My sister Melissa went with me to the first pitch event I was invited to attend in Tampa, Florida. I don’t know if I would have gone if she hadn’t supported me and helped me present. It was my first time on a stage presenting SkySquad, and at that point I didn’t have a co-founder or anyone helping full time in the business. My family was my foundation to launch this company, this is for sure. Their belief in my has helped me to believe in myself. That day in Tampa we placed third. That was where I met the first investors who showed interest in SkySquad and that event played a big part of the beginning of my journey. My kids who are 13 and 10 have seen me work on this business for years, and it is a big topic of conversation in our house. They have given me suggestions that work, they have cheered me on, and they tell me that they love seeing SkySquad grow into what it is today!

According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

Wow, what a great question. With as much progress as we have made, we still have so far to go. When I became a business owner, I realized just how much more responsibility women have. Taking care of the kids, running the mental list of the household — the grocery list, the dentist appointments for the kids, taking the dog to the vet, the after-school activities, the babysitter, it goes on and on. Starting a company comes with a lot of risk. It doesn’t always work out. Adding a lot of work to “try” something that may or may not work is hard, especially when, as a woman, you are typically the one who is supposed to be running the household. It is a lot safer to stick with a job that has the outcome clearly outlined with a certain role and a certain salary. To make it even more risky, women get so much less funding which means that they are starting way behind men when it comes to a success rate of raising money. I think that more women need to be in the driver’s seat of allocating funding. Hopefully, the women who are running successful companies today will decide to pay it forward to invest in women-owned companies to help steer the startup world into an a more even playing field.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

As individuals, I think it is super important to talk with your partner about the household responsibilities so that both men and women can feel like they are equal partners. Society can show examples on TV, Instagram, TikTok, and other communication channels of men and women carrying the weight of household responsibilities and work. Kids today don’t think twice about a female doctor, lawyer, or judge. We have come so far considering that women just got the right to vote in 1920, just 100 years ago! We need to do more to show girls that careers in entrepreneurship and tech are an option, and that their ideas matter!

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

Women are the ones who have the babies, who breastfeed, and who do a lot of the childcare. They are seeing and experiencing things that many men don’t. To me, it is so obvious that women should be creating companies and sharing their vision with the world. After all, half of the population is female! Necessity is the mother of invention, and women have needs that are different than men. For our society to solve the world’s problems, we need both a feminine and masculine perspective.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

The biggest myth is that you need to be good at everything. The truth is that no one has it all. Surround yourself with people who can complement your strengths. My two co-founders Chris Tomseth and Dave Osborne bring a lot of experience and skills that I do not have. I am also lucky to have an incredible VP of Operations, Megan Smith, who helps keep our ship running smoothly. I wanted to find co-founders and team member who could help fill in the gaps. I am so lucky to have the best team ever.

Is everyone cut out to be a founder? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful founder and what type of person should perhaps seek a “regular job” as an employee? Can you explain what you mean?

No! Not everyone is cut out to be a founder. There are many traits that you need to increase the likelihood that someone will be successful as a founder. For example, patience and a positive outlook are vital. I would say that positive self-talk is a huge part of being a founder. I am constantly reminding myself that I have gotten this far, and I can keep going! As founders, we are constantly hitting speed bumps on our way and getting rejected daily. We need to be able to see the end goal and not let it get to us. We have to believe that we are solving an important problem, and if people are not seeing the vision along with us then they are not the right person to talk to. Entrepreneurs must keep going, and never give up. Failure is part of the entrepreneurial process. It is the richest source of learning, so if one thing is not working on the journey, that is your lesson to pivot and go in a new direction. But, as long as you believe in your vision and you have others to support you, you must keep going.

Some people don’t enjoy this process, and that means that they are not cut out for the entrepreneurial journey. That is okay! There is something for everyone.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

5 Things I wish someone told me before I started:

Raising money will take a lot longer than you think. We started on Labor Day weekend and finally finished the week of Memorial Weekend. We thought it might take 2 months! Ha!
You don’t need to be an expert in the field of your startup to be a success. For example, I have never worked in travel before. But, my passion to improve the space is so strong that I am able to bring a new perspective to the field and help show the travel industry (airlines and airports) how important it is to focus on the customer experience. I now see my lack of airline experience as an asset, not a weakness.
It can be lonely at times. Starting a company from scratch is hard and there is no playbook. Find mentors and friends that you can talk to so that you can feel less along.
A coach is so important! I found a coach through one of my investors and it is a game changer. She has coached me on going from a founder to a CEO. It is an ongoing process but I wish I had met her sooner!
Make time to take care of yourself. This one I am still working on. There have been many days and weeks where I skipped exercise to work. On the days that I make time to work out — even if it is just a 20 minute bike ride or yoga class, my day is more productive and enjoyable. I need to remember this daily!

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

Since I find air travel to be very stressful, I like that we are taking the stress away for so many people. We are giving peace of mind to families, single moms, seniors, and helping solo travelers have an easier airport experience. We get messages from customers saying that we were “sent from heaven” to help them through a difficult time, or with a relative. Who they were worried about. That is very rewarding.

You are a person who has the opportunity to have great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

What movement would bring the most amount of good? I think my greater mission is to encourage people to believe in themselves. If you believe that you have something to offer the world, go for it! Nothing can stop you if you take baby steps in the direction of your dreams and are committed to your goal. My goal of improving the airport experience is coming true before my eyes and it is pretty cool to watch it happen. It is possible because of my team and our vision to make air travel easier and better for all.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

That is easy. Sara Blakely is my favorite role model! She has built an empire and I love learning from her. I have watched her MasterClass, follow her on Instagram, and have read many articles about her. My favorite advice that she has given is: Courage comes from making it about more than just yourself. Meeting Sara would be a dream come true.

If you had 60 seconds to make a pitch about your company to someone, what would you say?

SkySquad is a service that empowers individuals and families to fly with confidence. Traveling is hard, and traveling with kids is even harder. SkySquad was created to provide customers with a helping hand from the minute you arrive at the airport to the moment that you walk on the plane. Our staff are badged and background checked to get through security, and to the gate.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

@skysquadnow (Instagram)

https://www.instagram.com/skysquadnow/

@The Sky Squad (Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/theskysquad/

@SkySquad (LinkedIn)

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Julie Melnick of SkySquad On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Disruptors: Jessica D Williams of @ Refine Labs On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up…

Female Disruptors: Jessica D Williams of @ Refine Labs On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Good enough is often better than perfect. — I am a recovering perfectionist, and I’ve learned the hard way that it’s sometimes more important to get something out of the door at 80% than to aim for perfection.

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica D. Williams.

With experience across several industries, including oil/gas, retail, financial services, telemedicine, and marketing, Jessica has developed high-level skills in people operations. After finishing her undergraduate studies at Stephen F. Austin State University, Jessica completed a master’s degree in Public Health at the University of Sydney, Australia. She is now the Vice President of People at Refine Labs and the Founder of Hidden Gem Career Coaching. She uses her value-driven leadership and creative problem solving for strategic talent acquisition, performance management, diversity/inclusion, and policy development.

I’m so happy to have the opportunity to chat with you today! I’ve been in HR/Talent Management for the past ten years and started in the profession by accident. I took a six-month contract Recruiter role, then leveraged that role to become an HR Generalist, and the rest is history.

A funny characteristic is that I’m not too fond of rules and generally don’t follow them very well. So from day one, I bucked the system and had very strong opinions about leadership. I found myself being an advocate for employees well before I had any leadership role. To this day, I’m always rooting for the underdog, which in most cases are the employees.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

Let’s burn traditional Human Resources to the ground!!!

Unfortunately, most employees don’t trust HR because of a lack of leadership and innovation within the profession. I dare to adopt a different way of thinking, to leave a safe, ego-focused viewpoint for an expansive, radical ecosystem of views and actions. Progressive HR (also known as People Operations) is the way forward!

The key differences between traditional and progressive HR:

Inclusivity is the top priority
Embrace technology and people analytics for effective storytelling
Creating policies that empower employees to do the best work of their lives

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I started in HR ten years ago, during my first termination, I cried so much that the employee was comforting me even though he was terminated. I was so nervous and overwhelmed that tears started flowing as soon as the employee entered the conference room.

Unfortunately, since then, I’ve had a lot of practice with employee offboarding, so I no longer get overly emotional. I’ve learned how to be empathic without making the situation uncomfortable and that there is a way to be respectful and compassionate throughout the process.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

The person I’ve learned most from is my current mentor and direct manager, Megan Bowen, Chief Operating Officer of Refine Labs. Taking constructive feedback is no easy task, especially for me. The uncomfortable feeling of being exposed and discussing “areas of opportunity” are frightening and painful. However, I’ve learned effective communication strategies and business acumen from Megan. This is the result of a safe and positive working relationship.

Disruption sometimes has a negative connotation, and like with just about everything, there can be good and bad. Being a person that disrupts the status quo comes with pushback and challenges. I’ve been labeled a “loud mouth,” instructed to “tone it down,” and had my leadership abilities challenged unjustly because I think outside the box.

The importance of positive disruption is the ability to reinvent yourself and your brand continually. Alternatively, being disruptive without a true vision of the desired outcome is being argumentative without a solution and is ultimately counterproductive.

In the famous words of John Lewis, “get in good trouble, necessary trouble…”

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

Never settle!- If you are not being shown respect, that is your queue to leave.
Ask for support when you need it. — You cannot do this alone; you need support and community.
Good enough is often better than perfect. — I am a recovering perfectionist, and I’ve learned the hard way that it’s sometimes more important to get something out of the door at 80% than to aim for perfection.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

My next move is to link marketing and HR by bringing customer thinking into employee experience and branding. The current thinking of traditional HR is on its last breath and the time for significant change is past due! The need for employer branding (linking the marketing & HR departments) is pivotal for strategic thinking and the health of all organizations — specifically early-stage companies.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

The top 3 challenges I’ve faced throughout my career as a disruptor are the following:

Unconscious Bias: I’ve seen this manifest as an outdated preference for me to act, speak, and/or dress in a certain way. This is often showcased as an expectation of “professionalism,” which in most cases is proximity to whiteness.
Difficult Expectations: The unfair balance between respect and likability is a tightrope I walked at the beginning of my career. The “likeability paradox” for female leaders commonly comes up as women being persevered as “bossy” when a man displaying the same behavior is seen as showcasing “leadership skills.” Unfortunately, most data shows that women can be either liked or respected, but rarely both.
Limited Career Advancement Opportunities: I have left companies to advance my career due to the limited opportunities for upward mobility. A recent study from Yale found that women are 14% less likely to be promoted at their current employer than their male counterparts.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

I am a major fan of Dr. Akilah Cadet, the Founder & CEO of Change Cadet. She was recently a speaker at the Refine Labs offsite all-employee retreat in San Diego, CA. Her discussion on racism and dismantling white supremacy in the workplace has transformed the Refine Labs culture. Additionally, as a guest on the Talent Destination podcast that I co-hosted with Megan Bowen, she discussed action steps that leaders should take to dismantle white supremacy in the workplace and the difference between being an ally and an accomplice.

I want to inspire a movement for Black women to be included in top leadership positions in startups and large organizations. According to a National Center for Education Statistics study, Black women have been obtaining degrees consistently for the last eight years and counting — yet we are only 4% of the C-suite. This math doesn’t make sense! Black women are the most educated group in the United States right now. I am determined to change this with the help of Hidden Gem Career Coaching, speaking out, and using my platform on LinkedIn. The focus on leadership and upward mobility is essential; this will be the core function of the movement I plan to trigger.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My favorite quote from being a shy, awkward kid was, “Even if your voice shakes, you still speak!” Being a disruptor in traditional corporate workspaces creates a sense of purpose and fear. Shaking up the status quo is not always easy, but no matter what happens, I will continue to speak up and showcase my core values. The time for change is overdue; burn traditional HR to the ground! Burn, baby, burn!

How can our readers follow you online?

The best place to follow me is on LinkedIn at “RefineLabsJessica” or on Instagram at HiddenGemCC. I am also open to direct emails at [email protected].

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Female Disruptors: Jessica D Williams of @ Refine Labs On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Modern Fashion: Tessa Jennifer of Auralie On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion…

Modern Fashion: Tessa Jennifer of Auralie On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand Today

An Interview With Candice Georgiadice

Understand that business problems are privileged problems. It’s not a life-threatening, real world problem, like losing our home or not having food on the table on a daily basis. When we approach everything in business with that mindset, it’s so much easier to thrive and do our best with a clear mind.

Many in the fashion industry have been making huge pivots in their business models. Many have turned away from the fast fashion trend. Many have been focusing on fashion that also makes a social impact. Many have turned to sustainable and ethical sourcing. Many have turned to hi-tech manufacturing. Many have turned to subscription models. What are the other trends that we will see in the fashion industry? What does it take to lead a successful fashion brand today?

As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Tessa Jennifer.

Tessa Jennifer is the founder of Auralie, a thoughtful, slow fashion brand that sells independent designer clothing, accessories, and home decor to promote a journey of self-expression.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?

My relationship with fashion has always been more than just stuff. To me, fashion has never been about frivolity or branded items. It plays a bigger role in my life; it is a way for me to communicate who I am to the world, without over-explaining myself, especially when I first moved to the U.S. and could not speak English properly. I also have more sensitivity than others to what looks good on people, so styling and curating products for other people always came naturally to me.

Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?

My father was an entrepreneur, so starting my own business has always been in the back of my mind. I just didn’t know what or when. In 2019, I took a leave of absence, due to my work permit expiring, and the new one didn’t come out on time. During that time, I began journaling some ideas and attended many workshops for small businesses. My scribbles began to flow together, and I started this as a learning project. During the pandemic, it started to take off and we had been growing close to 300% YoY. That’s how I know I wanted to pursue it full-time.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

I began Auralie at the same time I had my first child. I do not recommend that! Everything was so new to me in my personal and professional life, and juggling being a new mom and starting a new business simultaneously was very challenging, because I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. On top of that, entrepreneurship is a roller coaster; there are a lot of unexpected situations thrown at us at once. So when I first started, it felt like I “had to” put out fires on a daily basis…which is not true, by the way.

Looking back now, it becomes clear to me that feeling was an illusion. There will always be emotional highs and lows juggling entrepreneurship and personal life, but that’s always a part of life. One of the ways we can handle our emotional highs and lows is to witness the mind. When we become mindful, we can actually see very clearly what happened. Most of the time, our ego creates or exaggerates the issues in our head, and that’s what causes the emotional highs and lows in the first place.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Persistent

I’m the type of person who likes challenges, which is why I love my job so much. There are always new, unexpected things to learn every day in entrepreneurship, and I realized that without an eagerness to learn, I wouldn’t be where I am today. When we’re persistent and eager to learn, we all can do anything we set our mind to.

Curiosity

I hardly take things as they are when faced with a situation. I’m always curious about why it happens, how it happens, and if there is any way to improve the current process. It’s not that there is something wrong with the current system, but being curious has taken me to a place I’ve never thought possible.

I give 110% to everything I do.

I think it’s very important to commit and give our best to everything we do. When we do our best, we use our potential to the fullest, and it shows how much we care about whatever we are doing. My pet peeve is seeing someone half-assing the task they take on. It’s a waste of time and potential.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

My business was born out of my own personal realization that clothing plays a large role in how it makes us feel. During pregnancy and postpartum, my body changed a lot and most of my pre-pregnancy clothes didn’t fit me anymore. I didn’t feel like myself, and it was affecting my confidence. One day, I bought this dress and put it on, and I immediately felt like “me” again; felt really confident in it. Then I realized that when we feel like the most authentic version of ourselves, that’s when we naturally feel the most confident. My mission with Auralie is to assist women in finding their confidence.

Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Trust the process.”

By nature, I’m an easy-to-worry type of person, so when I first started, I worried about literally everything, especially when things didn’t go as planned.

I learned that if anything is meant to be for us, it will come to us eventually. We just need to trust the process. If it’s not, then it won’t happen, regardless of how much stress and anxiety we give in. I also learned that things are not always going to go as we hoped for, but we can tweak and adjust along the way. Our mind is much more resilient than we may believe.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Do you see any fascinating developments emerging over the next few years in the fashion industry that you are excited about? Can you tell us about that?

The challenge with creating more sustainable options in the fashion industry is the higher price range. This totally makes sense, if you think about it, it costs more money to produce sustainable fabrics, pay the people a living wage, etc. These past few years, I’ve been seeing a lot of efforts to create alternatives to fast fashion at a more obtainable price. For example, washable silk. It is a sustainable alternative, but much more affordable than the actual silk. More and more developments these days are gearing towards that, which is really exciting.

Can you share how your brand is helping to bring goodness to the world?

We frequently donate sales proceeds to non-profit organizations that help marginalized women/kids in rural areas to beat hunger or to provide better access to education, etc. I truly believe that when kids are provided with basic needs, such as food, education, and better quality of life, they will be able to take better ownership of their life and the world they live in.

Can you share with our readers about the ethical standards you use when you choose where to source materials?

In general, we try to avoid plastic whenever possible. That includes fabrics, packaging, collaterals, etc. I also make sure the designers we work with pay their people right, and that they trace back the supply chain of the raw materials they use. These days, the word “sustainable” is thrown around a lot, but we don’t know if it’s really sustainable or not. We have to do the work and dig deeper to where the start of the supply chain is.

I think this question is much deeper than just the issue with fast fashion itself. We call it “fast fashion” because things are produced at a much quicker rate, and to be able to do so, the fast fashion companies need plenty of factory workers. Additionally, to be able to offer their products at lower prices, they need to outsource production to India/Southeast Asia, where factory workers are not paid well. To me, this is more about voting with our dollars and being thoughtful of what we consume. Are we aware that the workers who create these fast fashion pieces aren’t paid a living wage? Is this a piece that I would be able to keep for a long time or is this something that I would dispose of after one or two wears and add more waste to the landfill?

When we’re thinking about our choices, we naturally are more mindful of those surrounding us.

Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion Brand”. Please share a story or example for each.

Understand that business problems are privileged problems. It’s not a life-threatening, real world problem, like losing our home or not having food on the table on a daily basis. When we approach everything in business with that mindset, it’s so much easier to thrive and do our best with a clear mind.
A realization of the actual “job description” of being a leader. When we are leading a company, we are not going to dedicate most of our time doing the specific thing that we liked doing when we first started (e.g: designing). Being a leader encompasses so many other aspects and the big part of that job is building & leading your team.
Being nimble and adaptable. 80% of the time, things don’t go as we plan in entrepreneurship. Sometimes our expectation is far from what the reality is, and we just have to know how to work around the actual situation.
Knowing what and when to let go. As a leader, our time is very limited, and you can’t fight about everything. When you fight about everything, you start to fight about nothing.
Being okay with not being an expert in everything in the business. Not knowing how to do every single thing in our business doesn’t make us less good of a leader. It’s okay to outsource/hire experts in specific fields, but we have to have some level of knowledge of everything.

Every industry constantly evolves and seeks improvement. How do you think the fashion industry can improve itself? Can you give an example?

The fashion industry can definitely improve on waste control. Currently, 20% of global wastewater and 92 million tons of textile waste is produced annually by the fashion industry. More and more people are keeping their clothes for a much shorter period and disposing of them without much thinking. If each one of us put a little bit more effort into finding a new home for our clothes, that would be a tremendous step forward in terms of managing textile waste.

Mindfulness movement. I cannot stress enough how being mindful of everything in your life can affect the quality of your life. Oftentimes, we are too busy with work and our day-to-day lives that we forget to take time to notice the things around us. But in those times that we move slower and really focus on being in our body and feeling grounded, that’s when we’re most in touch with our true selves/gut feelings.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Website: auraliestudio.com

Instagram @auraliestudio

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

Modern Fashion: Tessa Jennifer of Auralie On The 5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Fashion… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Gena Kirk of KB Home: 5 Things You Can Do to Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Focus on what you love. If you love it, you can find a space for it in your home instead of focusing on trying to achieve a specific design style or copy a look. I recently went through this designing for my own home and for me, having a special pillow for your bed, or a bath oil you love, can bring you a sense of worthiness and self-care.

As part of my series on the “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Gena Kirk.

Gena Kirk is the VP of Corporate Studio, Design, for KB Home, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders. Gena has spent nearly three decades in the design industry, providing the latest trends and expert industry knowledge to KB Home’s homebuyers as they design their future homes.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

For me, design has always been a family trade and passion. I come from a long line of furniture and home designers and also wedding dress designers. Early in my career I worked with a tile manufacturer and designing kitchens and baths. That led to me taking an opportunity with KB Home and, after 25 years with the company, I am the VP of Corporate Studio.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

I cannot pinpoint one story to share, because I am inspired every day. While not a story, one thing I’ve found is that design is about more than just good taste. Today, it’s about the combination of design and personal taste that leads to interesting outcomes. From fashion to jewelry and architecture, I’m constantly inspired by all the design around me. At restaurants, I’ve even found myself paying more attention to the lighting or the bathroom tiles than the menu!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I learned early in my career that you can never ask too many questions and it’s a mistake to not take step back and evaluate what the problem is that you are really solving for. Whether it’s a design or supply chain challenge, I learned to keep asking questions and find the gray between the black and white.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

We’re working on really exciting projects to make the design process even more engaging for our homebuyers through technology and new offerings. Keep an eye out for more information.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

One quote that comes to mind is “what you put into life is what you’ll get out of it.” I would be hard pressed to find a situation where this is not relevant. It helps to remind me that the more I can commit to something and put into it, the more I will get out of it both personally and professionally.

Is there a particular person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

There are so many people I am grateful for — people make you great. Whether it’s a former mentor or boss, current college or the team that works with me, each of them makes me better every day. Coaching and motivating each other helps us grow as individuals and I appreciate each of them tremendously.

What are your “5 Things You Can Do To Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

Focus on what you love. If you love it, you can find a space for it in your home instead of focusing on trying to achieve a specific design style or copy a look. I recently went through this designing for my own home and for me, having a special pillow for your bed, or a bath oil you love, can bring you a sense of worthiness and self-care.

Add color. Accent colors can bring flair and personality to the most basic household items. This doesn’t just have to be through paint and wall color, but think about your throw pillows, rugs and even your hardware and lighting.

Embrace comfort. Home is your place to relax and be yourself, so prioritize being comfortable. In cooler months, make sure you have a basket full of blankets in your living room to stay cozy. Pick durable materials so you don’t have to worry about stains, and you can enjoy your space for years to come.

Think through technology. Having the right technology from can really impact the feel of a space. While that can include the right speakers to enjoy movie night, it also goes beyond that. Recently, I automated my windows to rise at 5:45 in the morning so I can wake up naturally with my circadian rhythm. Do things that make your life easier, because that will bring more joy to your home and take something off your to-do list.

If you don’t love it, change it. If something is bothering you in your space and you want to mix it up, don’t just think or worry about it — change it. Tastes and lifestyles change and evolve, and your space can evolve with you. Ultimately, do what makes you happy.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

Something that is close to my heart is addressing homelessness. Everyone deserves to have a place that’s their own where they feel secure. In many ways this is a cause that deserves more attention and I look for ways in my personal life that I can give back toward this effort.

Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?

There are so many people I would love to meet with one-on-one from spiritual leaders to celebrities, everyone has a unique story and perspective. One name that jumps to mind is Amanda Gorman. She has a powerful and inspirational voice and meeting with her would be fascinating.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

To see more KB Home design trends, follow us on Instagram or Pinterest @kbhome.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Gena Kirk of KB Home: 5 Things You Can Do to Help Your Living Space Spark More Joy was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Judith Smith of UTHealth McGovern Medical School on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks…

Women In Wellness: Judith Smith of UTHealth McGovern Medical School on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Get adequate sleep. It seems most of us think of sleep as an “expendable resource” that we can “make up on weekends” and or use caffeine-related products to overcome fatigue. Sleep is important for cell repair and mental refresh.

As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Judith A. Smith.

Dr. Judith A. Smith is a Professor and Director of the WHIM Research Program in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UTHealth McGovern Medical School and an oncology clinical pharmacy specialist at the UTHealth-Memorial Hermann Cancer Center and at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. She received a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy from Union University Albany College of Pharmacy. She completed residency in Pharmacy Practice and Oncology Pharmacy Practice at National Institutes of Health (NIH) followed by a fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC). Previously she was a Faculty member in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at UTMDACC and provided oncology clinical pharmacy services in their Gynecologic Oncology Center for over 15 years. Dr. Smith is an active member of many national and international professional organizations. She is currently serving as the inaugural chair of the NRG Oncology Pharmacy Subcommittee that she was instrumental in making it come to fruition. She is Board Certified in Oncology Pharmacy and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I am a professor and lead the Women’s Health Integrative Medicine (WHIM) Research Program at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. I completed my Bachelor’s in Pharmacy followed by my Doctorate in Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy. I completed my pharmacy practice and oncology pharmacy residencies at the National Institutes of Health and then moved to Houston, TX to complete a clinical pharmacology fellowship at The UT MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC). After my fellowship, I joined the faculty at UTMDACC. In 2003, I was invited to join McGovern Medical School as an adjunct assistant professor. In 2014, as we completed our preclinical studies on the benefits of AHCC® for clearance of HPV infections, I left UTMDACC and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston became my primary academic appointment because we were ready to evaluate AHCC® in humans.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Honestly, this one: When I first proposed evaluating AHCC® to clear HPV infections, a majority of my colleagues told me it wouldn’t work or you can’t clear persistent HPV infections. However, I trusted my gut and convinced the manufacturer of AHCC® to provide initial funding for preclinical studies. Over the years, I have read enough cancer treatment studies done in animals that failed to show a benefit in humans. So, I remained a healthy skeptic of my own research and luckily, I have a very patient research team that repeated studies just to be sure. I really did not publish our preclinical data until we had data that suggested AHCC® was helping clear HPV infections in humans. There were challenges along the way and what I learned was keeping myself focused on my goal to eliminate HPV is what keeps me going. This study is a big milestone, but we still have a long way to go to reach my ultimate goal.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

My biggest mistake when I first started my career was, as I left for Houston for my fellowship, being adamant that “I will never stay in Texas. Two years from now I am moving back to New York.” That was 23 years ago. I learned that none of us knows what tomorrow will bring and life will surprise you. Go into everything with an open mind.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

The research I have been working on for over 16 years has been to determine the benefits of AHCC® supplementation to support the immune system to clear persistent high-risk HPV infections. While a majority of patients do clear HPV infections on their own within 18 to 24 months, those that have persistent infections have a higher risk of going on to develop HPV-related cancers. Our research has shown that AHCC® supplementation may help to decrease this risk.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

#1: Get adequate sleep. It seems most of us think of sleep as an “expendable resource” that we can “make up on weekends” and or use caffeine-related products to overcome fatigue. Sleep is important for cell repair and mental refresh.

#2: Eat a well-balanced diet and watch portion control. I have seen a wide variety of “fad diets” and programs for weight loss and at the end of the day, very few are sustainable. It is important to keep portion control in perspective.

#3: See health care providers regularly and keep up with cancer screening. We all get busy with work, taking care of family, helping friends and more. It is important to remember that if you do not take care of you, then you might not be here to take care of everyone else. I believe the best chance for beating any cancer is finding it early and getting it out. Most health conditions with early intervention will have better outcomes.

#4: Regular physical activity. Yes, ideally regular exercise would be my recommendation. But those who just do not have enough hours in the day, building in exercise is stressful. Incorporating regular physical activity is a compromise — take the stairs rather than the elevator, park in the spot furthest from door. Set small goals and keep working to increase/improve over time.

#5: Compliment diet with use of nutritional supplements to support immune function and wellness. Today most of us lead very active lives that are both physically and mentally stressful. Nutritional supplements can be used to make up for deficits that occur due to “expending more energy” than we take in from diet and sleep alone. Speak with your physician about any supplements you are considering taking.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

An area I am very passionate about, that probably could bring the most impact on wellness, would be sustainable weight loss/weight management because a decreasing incidence of obesity could have the biggest impact on cancer prevention here in the US.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

I have had some amazing mentors who definitely helped prepare me for most things in my career. Here’s what I wish someone told me before I started:

Look in the mirror: that’s your competition. It took me a long time to learn to not worry about what everyone else was doing/achieving — just worry about doing my best.

There are moments that will seem impossible to overcome, but you will overcome them and come out stronger each time.

Do not be afraid to ask for more, value yourself and your contributions. It is important to remember your own self-worth.

You don’t fail when you fall down, you only fail when you do not get back up. There have been setbacks and once I accepted the failure and learned from it, moving forward was easier.

You are more than enough. I learned this a little later in my career from a mentor, but it was gamechanger to get rid of all those moments of self-doubt.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

It is tough to pick just one, but if I can only pick one, it would be mental health. I think mental health is gaining attention, but we have a long way to go. Why I picked mental health is because it can impact immune function, triggering a litany of health problems, including risk of persistent HPV infections. Mental health wellness is a priority and essential to achieve physical wellness — it’s all connected.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

One option is to follow my faculty webpage at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. As we open any new clinical study, it will be posted on clinicaltrials.gov.

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

Thank you for opportunity to share my perspectives and our exciting progress on the journey to eliminate HPV.

Women In Wellness: Judith Smith of UTHealth McGovern Medical School on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Patricia Ryan of Wonderfeel on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support…

Women In Wellness: Patricia Ryan of Wonderfeel on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Keep learning — When it comes to learning new things and brain health, the old adage “use it or lose it,” sums it up best. Continuing to challenge your brain by learning new skills or knowledge is one of the best ways to prevent your brain from aging. The best way to keep your brain healthy and your mind active is to tap into your curiosity and explore topics, lessons and skills that interest you while flexing your brain.

As a part of my series about women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Patricia Ryan.

Patricia is the Co-Founder and Chief Wonder Maker at Wonderfeel. She is known for moving an idea from inception to fruition through her articulated design and production language.

Every project she touches on is built from the idea that less is more — from clean, simple graphics to minimal, Earth-friendly packaging.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

Happy to! I’m a particularly curious and highly creative person with a history of building companies — everything from record labels to graphic design firms. My passion for brand identity is the connection across all of my entrepreneurial endeavors.

I didn’t follow a traditional path. At the age of 19, I moved to Chicago from Minneapolis where I grew up, ready to explore the world on my own. I was immediately drawn to a group of creative kids playing cool new music at the club after landing a bartending job. It was fresh. It was different. We called it “house music”. It quickly became my passion to bring this new genre of music to the masses. I started organizing underground events, then raves, first in Chicago, and then around the globe. From these efforts grew an artist management company where I helped build careers of now world-renowned DJs including Mark Farina, and subsequently co-created the successful Mushroom Jazz label. This later merged with OM records, where I am still a shareholder. Soon after this union I was leading their artistic output and created nearly 100 album covers. I taught myself how to use design software early on and out of necessity, but the next thing I knew, I was founding my own design agency in San Francisco.

My pivot into wellness was, not surprisingly, through branding. However, there’s more to that story as you read on.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

This is a great question that has me scanning a lifetime of entrepreneurialism. The most interesting story spans three careers (Graphic Designer, Creative Technologist, and brand owner) and begins with my Co-founder. Just at the turn of the century a future design client, who would later become my husband, then business partner was flipping through records at the Virgin Megastore in San Francisco when he came across a beautifully designed album cover. At the time he was CEO of a food sciences company looking for someone to redesign packaging for their flagship product, Whip-it’s! As it turns out, I was the designer of that album cover and thus began a seven-year working relationship where we became great friends. A 2007 Burning Man event changed one component of that dynamic and in 2008 we were married. Fast-forward ten years to the creation of Wonderfeel which was originally conceived, developed, and sold to the largest CBD manufacturer for their first B2C brand. After a C-suite shake-up, the brand reverted back to us. At that point we realized that no one would be better suited to launch this concept than us, playing to our long history in product design, development, and marketing.

This might read more like a love story, but the takeaway for me is to truly know who you are partnering with. Understanding communication style, having some experience with conflict, and knowing how to leverage each other’s strengths and weaknesses have been invaluable for our business. It’s helped us maintain a healthy morale within our whole team.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

By far, the biggest mistake of them all was asking for permission! Early on in the development of Wonderfeel, I felt defeated when my best ideas for our brand were not being implemented. Knowing this would be a roadblock to success, I started working with a leadership coach, and through various techniques including simple role-playing, they helped identify my core obstacles. I realized that whether directly or indirectly, I was asking, or rather waiting for “permission” from my partner to rubber-stamp these ideas. Discovering how to get out of my own way has been both humbling and empowering! What came out of the exercise was a “just do it!” mentality that I now wield with confidence.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

The US healthcare system is ripe for disruption — not a well-kept secret — and by empowering people with our preventive design for wellness, we’re positioned to break the cycle of symptom-based medicine.

Our company recently launched a longevity pillar with a spotlight on healthspan. Innovations in medicine over the last century have us living well into our 80s and 90s, even 100s, so longevity science is well underway. But these longer lifespans coincide with a reduced quality of life; levying an enormous financial burden on individuals, families, and our own government healthcare programs.

We’re only now solving the problem of gaining optimal physical and mental fitness throughout our long lives. One key discovery in bioscience lives in a tiny, life-sustaining nucleotide found in every cell in our bodies — it’s called NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) — but this crucial molecule diminishes with age. Science has shown that we can increase NAD production to more youthful levels by supplementing with NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) the direct precursor to NAD, in turn curbing many of the diseases and general decline associated with aging, a boon for increased healthspan and our new patented supplement, Youngr™ NMN.

It was only in the last few years that NMN production costs have come down enough to make its way into consumer-based products, however, it remains out of reach for large segments of the population. Our next focus is on making this accessible to people of all income levels through research, development, and partnerships with advocacy groups for underserved populations. We believe that wellness exists not only in the body but all around us, in our communities and environment.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Resist sugar

This can be one of the trickiest and toughest lifestyle tweaks, but it’s hands-down the most important thing you can do for increasing your healthspan and lifespan. Sugar kills. Period.

A good morning stretch

During sleep, blood flow decreases and while that’s really good for restoring the brain, your awake brain needs increased blood flow to concentrate and motivate. I start each morning with 5–10 minutes of gentle stretching then a bit of “nerve tensioning” to keep my midday headaches away. To make things easier, you can try one of the many paid and free apps available — FitOn is my current go-to for guided stretching.

Be PH-aware

To achieve optimal alkalinity at the cellular level we need a pH between 7.35–7.45. This is immensely beneficial when we talk about increasing healthspan. I keep my pH balance in check two ways, by following the Mediterranean diet and my secret weapon, 12 oz of warm water with the juice of half a lemon before my morning stretch. Pro tip: Swish your mouth with water immediately after (don’t brush) to protect tooth enamel.

Step out of your comfort zone

I am a firm believer in the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone. It’s very easy to become complacent with the status quo — whether you’re 100% fulfilled or if you’re feeling like you’re in a rut. I’ve found that even making the smallest of lifestyle tweaks to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, such as complimenting a stranger, can have an impact on your overall health and mental well-being. It’s been proven that regularly stepping outside of your comfort zone can help improve your performance at work, support personal growth and boost creativity levels.

Keep learning

When it comes to learning new things and brain health, the old adage “use it or lose it,” sums it up best. Continuing to challenge your brain by learning new skills or knowledge is one of the best ways to prevent your brain from aging. The best way to keep your brain healthy and your mind active is to tap into your curiosity and explore topics, lessons and skills that interest you while flexing your brain.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

The work I’m doing with Wonderfeel brings wellness to people in a more self-determined way, but there are myriad actions that can be taken at a granular level — think kindness and acceptance — that I don’t think any individual or company can do alone, it requires a movement.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Don’t wait for permission.

See above about the biggest mistake I made! The beauty of founding and running my own business is having the freedom to explore and act on concepts without “running it up the chain”.

Creativity and inspiration can come from anywhere.

My entrepreneurial journey has taught me that creativity and inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places. When you’re hyper-focused on building something, it’s very easy to get stuck in the weeds. Don’t forget to look up or around you. Solutions to a problem or ideas can spark from a conversation with a stranger, a piece of art, or nature.

Get out and meet more people.

The best work I’ve done is away from my computer, away from all the digital tools that keep me busy, but isolated. There is nothing more authentic, more trustworthy, and more productive than sharing stories or ideas face-to-face with another human.

There will be a lot of inefficiencies.

No one-size-fits-all roadmap exists for any business, and things are liable to get messy. As our company grows I’m learning ways to be more efficient, but by adjusting my expectations I can find solutions with a clearer head.

Be prepared to succeed.

The light at the end of the tunnel is sometimes hard to see, and if you’re not prepared that light can take you by surprise. When the momentum hit with Wonderfeel and things started to get real, a whole world of feelings and responsibility came along with it. A mindset for success is now built into my every day in some way.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Leading Wonderfeel’s sustainability efforts is a challenge I’m faced with it every day. I’m highly focused on finding solutions, but making a 100% sustainable product isn’t as easy or common as you would think. One major barrier comes from the FDA preventing bio-based materials in our supplement bottles (only petroleum-based, glass, or aluminum is allowed). This single barrier, once removed, could make a huge impact. Meanwhile, everything we make is built from the idea that less is more. From zero single-use plastics to Earth-friendly packaging, we ship in right-sized boxes using no more materials than absolutely necessary. All of this is more expensive, but we’re committed to protecting our environment and we’re hoping more brands will hop on board.

What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?

Wonderfeel Longevity website: GetWonderfeel.com and Instagram

Other wellness products including CBD: Wonderfeel.co and Instagram

If you’re curious about my endeavors in fine art see: Dsner.com

And of course, Wonderfeel on LinkedIn

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

Women In Wellness: Patricia Ryan of Wonderfeel on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Noreen Diani of RODEO Initmates On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed…

Female Founders: Noreen Diani of RODEO Initmates On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Don’t try to do everything yourself — Asking for help when you are overwhelmed is okay. When you need help preparing shipments, ask a friend or family member to help you. If you can not pay them for their time let them have some of your products to try until you can afford to pay them for their time. 9 out of 10 times your mom or dad, even siblings will help you. I had my brother boxing and shipping my amazon storefront in the beginning.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Noreen Diani.

Noreen Taylor Diani is the CEO of Donore Cosmetics and Rodeo Intimates with more than 20 years of experience working in the health and beauty industry. Noreen recognized the need for organic and chemical free health and beauty products that did not compromise on performance or durability. Noreen came across that 95 % of cancers come from the usage of chemicals in health and beauty products.

I had become so toxic within my body from the over usage of chemically laced products in our beauty products and in our intimate products. Our skin is our largest organ and it absorbs 70% of what you put on it. It then becomes stored in our liver and over time we become toxic. 95% of cancers come from chemicals in our health and beauty products that are hormone disruptors. Once I had done all my research, I decided to create organically safe products that are free and clear of harsh chemicals.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

The most interesting thing that has happened to me since I began my venture of creating clean and safe products was that people wanted them because they could not use conventional products on the market due to allergies. I had men and women thanking me for creating products they could use because they were allergic to everything. 54% of consumers are allergic and can not wear products on the market but being able to wear what I was creating was a very rewarding feeling that I was helping others.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

As an entrepreneur you have to think outside the box at times to grasp your audience’s attention. Our name, RODEO Intimates, got us a lot of attention in a positive way. I learned sex sells and if you can be creative as well as funny you can grab your audience’s/customer’s attention. None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

You can achieve your goals when you have full confidence in yourself and in what you are bringing to the table. This mindset is important when you are looking for seed funders or business partners. When you believe in yourself and what you are trying to achieve makes it more alluring to investors. I have been blessed with a few business partners, believing in what I am creating in brands. I’ve started creating formulas for other brands so they can have safe products for their clients.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

I feel that the lack of funding is holding back women entrepreneurs. Society sees men as the creators and innovators when in reality it is the complete opposite. Men are more often more desirable to an investor in fields that are considered a man’s environment. Even when it comes down to networking or ethical values in a company people are more inclined to work with men. I see these brands spending unnecessary dollars on being in gifting suites, events or paying influencers to post their brands. These most of the time do not create dollars in the bank account unfortunately.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

I think society needs to come to terms that all job titles are now gender fluid. Men and women can equally own businesses regardless of gender. Investors should see the value of the person presenting the opportunities to the table. It should be about the business and not the gender pitching the business. There should be tax incentives for investors investing in women owned businesses. There should be more financing available to women creating business or a need being fulfilled.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

A woman founder often makes a better story. A women entrepreneur often takes a different path to entrepreneurship than the male counterpart where their stories are more interesting as well as genuine. Statistically female owners generate higher revenues, have a higher survival rate, and are more motivated than men.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

Women executives are not supportive of other women. It is the exact opposite. Women are dangerously supportive of empowering other women. It’s addictive because we want to see each other succeed and oftentimes succeed together. Sometimes other women have a trait or a talent that we might not have and when you work together to achieve the same goal it is very rewarding.

You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. Anyone can be a founder of a company. If you have a hobby and you love what you do, you can turn it into a business and never work a day in your life because it is something you truly enjoy doing. To be successful you have to have a drive and a passion for what you are doing. If you don’t have a passion for what you are doing then it will not be successful to its full potential. I think we are all innovators in our own way and I try to think positively that anyone can be a business owner. Research the best avenues for what you are trying to achieve and create a goal board and stick to it.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

1) Don’t try to do everything yourself

Asking for help when you are overwhelmed is okay. When you need help preparing shipments, ask a friend or family member to help you. If you can not pay them for their time let them have some of your products to try until you can afford to pay them for their time. 9 out of 10 times your mom or dad, even siblings will help you. I had my brother boxing and shipping my amazon storefront in the beginning.

2) Find like minded people not skill minded people

You want to obtain a goal to look for workers that think like you or in your mindset. Sometimes people with the skill set have a different perspective on things. In my business I like positive minded goal-oriented people whom I can grow with and potentially be business partners with.

3) Ignore the “naysayers”

Not everyone is going to like you or what you’re doing. Sometimes this is often out of jealousy or the fear of not being successful. So do not let others talk you out of your dreams. This is your business not theirs. You decided to start your business on your own, you are taking the risks as well as the rewards.

4) Pay for tools your business needs

Paying for software and services starting out can be a little dent in your finances but will be worth it in the long run. Get that amazon storefront or range me account to be in front of buyers for stores. This only benefits your business and helpful tools to help you make money to grow your business.

5) End a business engagement

Oftentimes we are dealt with this. You may have been doing business with a vendor for years but as your business grows, they cannot perform. Whether it is dates your products are needed, cost is higher than a competitor or the quality of a product. Never be nervous to find another vendor that can meet your needs and terminate the working relationship. If it is not helping your business grow then replace it with what your business needs are.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I try to align my businesses with charities that are helping other women. Whether it’s domestic violence or cancer research. I make sure to donate or support events for these types of charities.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

I see so many people putting others down. I always try to say something positive throughout my day to 5 women I’ve randomly seen on the street. If they look pretty, I tell them they look pretty today. If they are loving parents, I praise their parenting. This always makes people feel good about themselves and I truly enjoy doing it. Just think if we all did this how we can change each other’s perception of ourselves from negative to positive.

JK Rowling would be whom I would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with. I admire her on so many levels. She had so many doors closed on her and then one that believed in her creativity and brought it to fruition. She never gave up and stayed true to her vision.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Noreen Diani of RODEO Initmates On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.